TRENTON >> A handful of active and retired city cops are placing their wagers early on a horse in the upcoming mayoral election.

According to Paul Perez’s recent election finance report, several boys in blue have chipped into the 2014 mayoral runner-up’s campaign coffers.

Lt. Rolando Ramos, who retired last week, gave the most with a $200 donation in December.

“I believe in his vision for Trenton,” Ramos said last week. “I believe that his experience and his knowledge of government on how it works translates into what he can do to Trenton to make it better.”

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The background of Perez, a retired Army officer who served as personal security officer for the secretary of defense while working at the Pentagon, also attracted Ramos to the candidate.

“His experience as a police officer drew me to him and our interactions — personally and well as business — have shown me that he is more than capable in running the city of Trenton and making it a safer, more appealing place to work, play and live,” Ramos said. “My goal is to try to get him elected or help him get elected and that’s why I donated to his campaign and that’s why I am helping him and trying to assist him in reaching that goal.”

Since Ramos, of Westampton, is retired, he is eligible to be appointed police director if Perez wins.

“My interest in supporting Paul has no bearing on that,” Ramos said.

However, Ramos said a goal of his has “always” been to lead the department.

“When I became a police officer, my goal was to be the police chief/police director,” he said. “So that’s never been off the table regardless of who was mayor of the city.”

Austin told The Trentonian in an interview that he attended one of Perez’s campaign fundraisers.

The 17-year retired police sergeant liked Perez’s military service and added he believes Perez is “disciplined and approachable.”

“I like what I’m hearing from Paul Perez,” said Austin, an Iraq War veteran who was featured on the A&E reality show “Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force.”

Austin acknowledged his interest in becoming Trenton’s next police director.

Austin, who said he supported Mayor Eric Jackson, couldn’t vote in the last election because he’s not a resident.

Austin grew up in Trenton but moved his family to Willingboro for safety reasons because he said he was involved in dangerous work while he was on the police force.

Despite not living in Trenton anymore, Austin said, “You can never turn your back on your hometown.”

Many of his family members still reside in Trenton, and he said he would work as police director to stem the tide of violence that has plagued the capital city.

Austin’s bid to become police director is possible because the city lifted a residency requirement for cabinet members in 2014, following City Council’s 4-2 vote.

Austin is well-known in capital city circles, for his triumphs and tragedies.

Before retiring in 2011, he worked on the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Task Force, landing him on the popular A&E show that concentrated on Austin’s informant network and his knowledge of the capital city and its residents.

Austin’s son, James, was shot and killed by Robert Bartley following a dispute with his cousin, Raheem Currie, over a busted-out car window.

Luddie Austin and his family were a constant presence at Currie’s trial, wearing controversial memorial pins of James’ twins that decried how he missed their first steps because of gun violence.

Luddie Austin feels he has the “heart and passion” to succeed as police director if he were lucky enough to land the gig.

When asked to assess Mayor Jackson’s and police director Ernest Parrey Jr.’s time in office, Austin said it was easy for city residents to “try to kick them when they’re down instead of shaking their hands when they’re standing. The main problem with Trenton is everyone wants to be critical of every step.”

During Jackson’s run for mayor four years ago, he received a $500 donation from police detective Faheem Ja-Bree. Ja-Bree was then appointed as Jackson’s security guard and driver when the first-term mayor assumed office.

Austin didn’t agree with any suggestion that police detective Faheem Ja-Bree’s donation to Jackson’s campaign in 2014 may have influenced the mayor’s decision to put him on his security detail, a position regarded by many in law enforcement as a plush, less-stressful post for cops in the twilight of their careers.

“Those were two seasoned detectives,” Austin said of Jackson’s men, noting he went through the police academy with Ja-Bree.

Austin pointed out cops have it hard these days because all their moves are being questioned and scrutinized by members of the Monday-morning-quarterbacking public and the news media following several notable shootings of young black men across the nation.

He likened those uninformed opinions to him trying to coach hockey without a background in the sport.

“When you’re faced with a critical decision, you’re going to resort to your training,” he said, stating a lot of the news reporting done on police officers these days is “opinioned, no fact-based.”

Austin believes restoring morale in the department boils down to connecting with officers and ensuring they know the department leader understands their plights.

Perez also received a contribution from a police officer outside of Trenton.

In addition to the cops, Perez received donations from city, county and state employees, records show.

As of last month, Perez has $4,750 remaining in his bank account. So far this election season, the candidate who seeks to become Trenton’s first Latino mayor has received $9,846 in contributions and spent $5,097, campaign finance documents show.

Perez has also chipped in more than $2,000 of his own money to his campaign.

About the Authors

Originally from Webster, N.Y., David has been a reporter in N.J. for the past three years (first in Phillipsburg and now in Trenton).He is a Temple alum who interned at the Philadelphia Daily News. Reach the author at dfoster@trentonian.com
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Avilucea has covered courts, crime and coaching kerfuffles in New Mexico, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. He prides himself on covering First Amendment issues and was honored for helping fight against a Connecticut judge's prior restraint injunction while he worked at the Connecticut Law Tribune. Reach the author at iavilucea@trentonian.com
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